Multiple Variety Seed Planter With Direct Vacuum System

ABSTRACT

A multiple variety planter is provided that has a direct vacuum system that allows for planting multiple varieties of seed while reducing occurrences of mis-planting events or planting inconsistencies such as multiples and skips by providing highly controllable seed meter vacuum performance characteristics that are controllable on a row-by-row basis. The direct vacuum system may include a vacuum unit at each row unit of the planter to apply a vacuum pressure to a seed meter at the row unit. Each vacuum unit may be individually and variably controlled to apply different vacuum pressures based on which seed variety is being planted with the respective seed meter at a given time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 15/833,068, filed Dec.6, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to planters and, in particular, toplanters for planting multiple types or varieties of seed and a directvacuum system that applies different vacuum pressures on a row-by-rowbasis based on characteristics of the different seed varieties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern farming practices strive to increase yields of agriculturalfields. Technological advances of planters allow for better agronomiccharacteristics at the time of planting, such as providing more accurateseed depth, improved uniformity of seed depth across the planter, andimproved accuracy of in-row seed spacing. To reduce operating expenses,farm equipment is operated at relatively faster travel speeds, whichreduces the amount of operating time to complete certain tasks. Whenoperating equipment at faster travel speeds, it can be important tomaintain the quality of operation and good agronomic characteristicsthat can be achieved while operating at relatively slower operatingspeeds. This can be especially difficult to accomplish during planting,which requires precise seed depth placement and spacing accuracy inorder to maintain a good seed environment. Furthermore, a single fieldcan have yield performance inconsistencies between different areas ofthe field. That is because a field can have a wide variety of soil typesand management types or zones, such as irrigated and non-irrigated zonesin different areas. Seed companies are developing multiple varieties ofeach of their seed product types to optimize yield in these differentareas. The different seed varieties offer improved performancecharacteristics for different types of soil and management practices.Efforts have been made to plant multiple varieties of a particular seedproduct type in different areas of fields with different soil types ormanagement zones. These efforts include planters that allow for plantingtwo varieties and include ancillary row units or two separate anddistinct seed meters at every row unit, some of which have includeddedicated vacuum sources for the different meters or groups of metersthat plant the different seed types, but such duplication of componentsadds to the cost and complexity of the planter. Other planters allow forplanting multiple varieties by feeding seeds of different varieties toseed meters at different times. However, feeding different seedvarieties at different times to seed meters can lead to plantinginconsistencies because the selected meter components and seed metersettings that are optimized for one seed type may not work as well withother seed types. Such planting inconsistencies can be worsened at thehigh travel speeds of modern planters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to systems for row crop planting thatallow for planting multiple varieties of seed while reducing occurrencesof mis-planting events such as multiples and skips by providing highlycontrollable seed meter vacuum performance characteristics that arecontrollable on a row-by-row basis.

According to one aspect of the invention, a direct vacuum systemprovides the ability to change vacuum pressure on a row-by-row basiswhile planting. This facilitates planting different seed varieties on arow-by-row basis because a vacuum application strategy can beimplemented that applies an appropriate vacuum pressure for theparticular seed variety being planted at a given time and can be changedto correspond to different varieties according to a prescription map.Planting different seed varieties on a row-by-row basis with differentvacuum pressures instead of per-section, which may be as many as twelveor more rows, allows for more accurate seed spacing and higher yields.The vacuum application strategy may change vacuum pressure applied by adirect vacuum unit at a given row unit based on characteristics of thedifferent seed varieties, such as seed size, seed shape, and seedweight.

According to another aspect of the invention, the direct vacuum systemcontrols its vacuum units to compensate for less than optimal fitbetween the physical characteristics of some seed varieties beingplanted according to a prescription map and the metering member(s) beingused in the seed meter(s). The direct vacuum system accommodatesdifferent seed-to-seed meter holding characteristics of the differentseed varieties.

According to another aspect of the invention, a multiple variety seedplanter is provided that includes a direct vacuum system. The multiplevariety seed planter is configured for planting different seed varietiesat different locations of an agricultural field, for example, based ondifferent zones of a prescription map of the field. The multiple varietyseed planter includes a frame. Row units are supported by the frame andseed storage compartments are supported by the row units. In somecentral bulk-fill embodiments, seed storage compartments may besupported by the frame for bulk storage. Each of the row units includesa seed meter and each seed meter has a seed meter housing that defines ahousing cavity and a metering member that rotates in the housing cavityto singulate the seed from a seed pool for planting. A direct vacuumsystem includes a vacuum unit at each row unit. The vacuum units may beindividually and variably controlled and each applies vacuum pressure toits respective seed meter. The vacuum units may correspondingly bediscrete vacuum sources for the individual seed meters at the row units.Each vacuum unit may include a vacuum unit housing and a vacuum unit fanarranged within the vacuum unit housing to create an airflow that drawsair out of and create vacuum pressure within the individual seed meter.A control system may be configured to individually control each vacuumunit, allowing their separate control. At each row unit, the controlsystem may determine which of the multiple seed varieties is currentlybeing planted and control the vacuum unit based on the currently plantedseed variety.

According to another aspect of the invention, the vacuum unit isconfigured to apply a first vacuum pressure to the seed meter when theseed meter plants a first seed variety and a second vacuum pressure tothe seed meter when the seed meter plants a second seed variety.

According to another aspect of the invention, the different seedvarieties have different physical characteristics, which influence howthey interact with the metering member in the seed meter. Thesedifferent physical characteristics of the different seed types mayrequire different vacuum pressures to be suitably picked up from theseed pool and carried to a release location in the seed meter whileavoiding instances of more than one seed simultaneously released,referred to as multiples, or instances of no seed being released duringwhat should have been a release event, referred to as skips. The vacuumunit may apply different vacuum pressures to the seed meter for thedifferent sizes, shapes, and/or weights of different seed varieties toensure that the seeds get picked up from the seed pool, suitably heldagainst the metering member and carried through the seed meter by therotating metering member, and singularly released from the meteringmember and seed meter for planting the field.

According to another aspect of the invention, a first row unit has afirst seed meter with a first metering member delivering a first seedvariety as a current variety of the first row unit. A second row unithas a second seed meter with a second metering member delivering asecond seed variety as a current variety of the second row unit. Thedirect vacuum system is configured to directly and individually applyvacuum pressure to the first and second seed meters. The direct vacuumsystem may include a first vacuum unit that is arranged at the first rowunit to deliver vacuum pressure to the first seed meter at a firstvacuum pressure. The first vacuum pressure may correspond to acharacteristic of the first seed variety. A second vacuum unit isarranged at the second row unit to deliver vacuum pressure to the secondseed meter at a second vacuum pressure. The second vacuum pressure maycorrespond to a characteristic of the second seed variety.

According to another aspect of the invention, the characteristic issize, such that the first seed variety is a first size and the secondseed variety is a second size. The different first and second vacuumpressures correspond to pressures for holding the first and second seedvarieties of the first and second sizes against the first and secondmetering members to move through and be delivered out of the first andsecond seed meters.

According to another aspect of the invention, the characteristic isshape, such that the first seed variety is a first shape and the secondseed variety is a second shape. The different first and second vacuumpressures correspond to pressures for holding the first and second seedvarieties of the first and second shapes against the first and secondmetering members to move through and be delivered out of the first andsecond seed meters.

According to another aspect of the invention, the direct vacuum systemis configured so that when the first seed meter changes from deliveringthe first seed variety to the second seed variety as the current varietyof the first row unit, the first vacuum unit changes from deliveringvacuum pressure from the first vacuum pressure to the second vacuumpressure. When the second seed meter changes from delivering the secondseed variety to the first seed variety as the current variety of thesecond row unit, the second vacuum unit changes from delivering vacuumpressure from the second vacuum pressure to the first vacuum pressure.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided formultiple variety planting with a direct vacuum system. The methodincludes planting a first seed variety from a seed meter having ametering member. Vacuum is directly applied at a first vacuum pressureto the metering member of the seed meter to hold the seeds of the firstseed variety against the metering member. The first vacuum pressurecorresponds to a characteristic of the first seed variety. The seedvariety being planted is switched from the first seed variety to asecond seed variety. Vacuum is applied at a second vacuum pressure tothe metering member of the seed meter to hold the seeds of the secondseed variety against the metering member with the second vacuumpressure. The second vacuum pressure corresponds to a characteristic ofthe second seed variety.

According to another aspect of the invention, the method may includedetermining a mixture phase corresponding to a switchover event, duringwhich seeds of both of the first and second varieties are in a seed poolof the seed meter. A vacuum unit may be controlled at the row unit basedon seed delivery inconsistencies during the mixture phase at theswitchover event. The direct vacuum system may start applying a higherpressure and, if multiples are detected, incrementally decrease pressureuntil the inconsistencies are sufficiently reduced. Or, the directvacuum system may start applying a lower pressure and, if skips aredetected, incrementally increase pressure until the inconsistencies aresufficiently reduced.

According to another aspect of the invention, the vacuum unit may becontrolled to apply the greater vacuum pressure of the first and secondvacuum pressures to the seed meter during the mixture phase. During themixture phase, while applying the greater of the first and second vacuumpressures to the seed meter, evaluation of occurrences of multiplescontinues. If multiples are detected, then the vacuum unit is controlledto decrease the vacuum pressure. The vacuum unit may decrease the vacuumpressure to an intermediate vacuum pressure that has a value between thefirst and second vacuum pressures. Evaluation of multiples may continueduring the mixture phase and, if further multiples are detected whileoperating at the intermediate pressure value, then the vacuum unit mayfurther decrease pressure to apply the lower of the first and secondvacuum pressures.

According to another aspect of the invention, the vacuum unit may becontrolled to apply the lower vacuum pressure of the first and secondvacuum pressures to the seed meter during the mixture phase. During themixture phase, while applying the lower of the first and second vacuumpressures to the seed meter, evaluation of occurrences of skipscontinues. If skips are detected, then the vacuum unit is controlled toincrease the vacuum pressure. The vacuum unit may increase the vacuumpressure to an intermediate vacuum pressure that has a value between thefirst and second vacuum pressures. Evaluation of skips may continueduring the mixture phase and, if further skips are detected whileoperating at the intermediate pressure value, then the vacuum unit mayfurther increase to the apply the greater of the first and second vacuumpressures.

Other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however,that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicatingpreferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way ofillustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications maybe made within the scope of the present invention without departing fromthe spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent likeparts throughout.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a multiple variety planter with a directvacuum system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified partially schematic view of the direct vacuumsystem of the planter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method of using the direct vacuum systemof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a simplified representation of a prescription map shown on apath map of multiple variety planting of a field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, a directvacuum system 5 is incorporated in a multiple variety planter, shownhere as planter 7, that is configured to plant different seed varietiesduring a single on-the-go planting session. As explained in greaterdetail elsewhere herein, the direct vacuum system 5 is controlledaccording to a vacuum application strategy to apply an appropriatevacuum pressure for the particular seed variety being planted at a giventime.

Still referring to FIG. 1, planter 7 may be one of the EARLY RISER®series planters available from Case IH and is typically pulled by atraction device such as a tractor 9. A frame 11 of the planter 7supports multiple row units 13 that are substantially identical. Eachrow unit 13 includes various support, metering, and ground-engagingcomponents. These may include a sub-frame that is connected to the frame11 of the planter 7 by way of a parallel linkage system and furrowopening and closing mechanisms toward front and back ends of the rowunit 13. The opening and closing mechanisms may include opener disks andclosing disks, respectively, or other ground-engaging tools for openingand closing a furrow. Each row unit 13 may include a gauge wheelconfigured for adjusting furrow depth by limiting soil penetration ofthe furrow-opening mechanism while creating the furrow, and a presswheel may be arranged to roll over the closed furrow and to further firmthe soil over the seed to promote favorable seed-to-soil contact.

Still referring to FIG. 1, seed 17 is held in a seed storage systemshown here as bulk storage in a bulk storage system 19. Bulk storagesystem 19 has at least one bulk fill hopper 21, shown here as having twocentral bulk fill hoppers 21 supported by the frame 11 of the planter 7,remote from the row units 13. The bulk storage system 19 has twocompartments 23 with one shown in each of the bulk fill hoppers 21. Itis understood that the bulk or other storage system may have more thantwo compartments 23, which may correspond to the number of types ofseeds being used for multiple-type or variety planting. Additionalcompartments 23 may be provided in each of the bulk fill hoppers 21 bydivider walls or partitions. It is understood that at least some bulkstorage may be at the row units 13 themselves, such as by way ofmanual-fill on-row storage compartments. The different compartments 23may hold seeds 17 of a different plant type or a common plant type butdifferent types or varieties 17 a, 17 b, for planting in differentmultiple-type or variety zones of an agricultural field defined at leastin part by characteristics relating to at least one of soil type andmanagement type, or other characteristics such as low/high ground areas,weed issues, insect issues, fungal issues, buffer zones in organicfields that are planted next to non-organic fields, or others, such asthose represented as zones Variety-A and Variety-B in a prescription mapPM, schematically represented in the path map shown in FIG. 4. Althoughtwo different seed types or varieties 17 a, 17 b are shown, it isunderstood that other numbers of seed varieties may be stored on andplanted by the planter 7 based on, for example, the number ofcompartments 23 in the bulk storage system 19 for a particular planter7. Although the seed 17 may be described elsewhere herein as differentseed varieties 17 a, 17 b, it is understood that the description of thedifferent varieties of seed includes different hybrids or types. Inother words, the different varieties 17 a, 17 b of seed 17 include notonly different hybrids or varieties of the same plant species, but alsodifferent seed products. Different seed products can include seeds ofdifferent species, coated and uncoated seeds, such as insecticide coatedand non-insecticide coated seeds. The different seed products can alsoinclude refuge in a bag seed and non-refuge in a bag seed,plant-parasite resistant seed and non-plant-parasite resistant seed suchas cyst nematodes resistant seeds and non-cyst nematodes resistantseeds, herbicide-tolerant seed and non-herbicide tolerant seed, or otherdifferent products. The different seed products can further includedifferent crop seeds such as corn and soybeans, oats and barley,different cover crops such as tillage radishes and rye, or variouscombinations of these or other combinations. Regardless, the differentseed varieties 17 a, 17 b have different physical characteristics suchas size, shape, and weight.

Referring now to FIG. 2, planter 7 includes a seed conveyance airflowsystem 27 that includes positive air pressure source(s) such as knownpumps, fans, blowers, and/or other known airflow system components topneumatically deliver seeds of the different types 17 a, 17 b from thebulk storage system 19 into an on-row storage system 25. Seed conveyanceairflow system 27 delivers the seed 17 in an airflow that entrains theseed 17 and flows along a flow path defined by, for example, conduitsthat extend along the planter 7 to the row units 13 to be dropped intothe seed trench formed by the furrow opening mechanism. On-row storagesystem 25 locally stores relatively small amounts of seeds 17 at each ofmultiple row units 13 to feed a seed-metering system with a seed meter29. The seed meters 29 can be configured to simultaneously plantdifferent seed varieties 17 a, 17 b from the different row units 13, orotherwise switch seed types 17 a, 17 b being planted from a single rowunit 13, as explained in greater detail elsewhere herein. The particularseed variety 17 a, 17 b that is selectively delivered from bulk storageto the particular row unit(s) 13 is controlled by way of flow-pathselecting mechanisms such as gates or valves that are electronicallycontrolled to select a particular hose or other routing passage for theparticular compartment(s) 23 and to define the delivery paths throughthe seed conveyance airflow system 27 to the respective row unit(s) 13.

Referring now to FIG. 2, each seed meter 29 is a vacuum-type seed meter29 that receives a selected seed variety 17 a, 17 b from the on-rowstorage system 25. Seed meter 29 has a seed meter housing 31 with firstand second side portions or covers. The side portions or covers connectto each other at their peripheries defined by respective circumferentialside walls with the open ends facing toward each other to collectivelydefine an enclosure that surrounds housing cavity 33 in which a seedpool is defined. A metering member 35 may be a disk-shaped, abowl-shaped, or other type of metering member that can singulate seed 17and is shown here arranged to rotate at least partially within cavity33. Although metering member 35 is shown in FIG. 2 as entirely enclosedwithin housing 31 and its housing cavity 33, it is understood that atleast a portion of metering member 35 may extend out of the housing 31and its housing cavity 33. Other components may be arranged within thehousing cavity 33, such as various seals that engage metering member 35to provide vacuum shutoff and a seed singulator that is configured toinhibit more than one seed from being discharged from the seed meter 29per seed discharge event. A brush assembly may be arranged within thehousing cavity 33 to form a barrier that retains the seed 17 inside thehousing cavity 33 instead of, for example, spilling out of the meterthrough the seed delivery system.

Still referring to FIG. 2, metering member 35 is rotated through atleast part of the seed pool to pick up and singulate seeds using seedpockets at a seed pickup region in the housing cavity 33. The individualseeds are moved through the seed meter 29 to a vacuum cutoff area at arelease location in the seed meter 29 for individual release through aseed delivery system 37, which may include a seed tube (unlabeled butschematically shown in FIG. 2), a seed delivery belt, or other seeddelivery mechanism toward a seed trench of the agricultural field.Rotation of metering member 35 is accomplished by way of a meteringmember drive system. The metering member drive system may include, forexample, various electric or hydraulic motors, drive shafts, chains andbelts, clutches, peg-and-hole drive systems, and/or other arrangementssuch as a directly-driven arrangement in which a motor directly drivesthe metering member at its hub or periphery.

Still referring to FIG. 2, seed meter housing 31 has a seed meterhousing vacuum inlet 39 that connects seed meter 29 to direct vacuumsystem 5. Direct vacuum system 5 includes a direct vacuum unit shown asvacuum unit 45 at each row unit 13. The vacuum units 45 provide discretesources of vacuum at each row unit 13 and can be individually andvariably controlled to apply variable vacuum pressure to the respectiveseed meters 29. The vacuum pressure in each seed meter 29 is appliedwithin a vacuum chamber that is on an opposite side of the meteringmember 35 than the seed pool so that the seeds 17 are held against themetering member 35, such as within the seed pockets, by the vacuumpressure. Different seed varieties 17 a, 17 b interact in different wayswith metering member 35 based on their different physicalcharacteristics, such as size, shape, and weight. These differencesrequire different vacuum pressures in seed meter 29 to sufficiently holdthe different seed varieties 17 a, 17 b against the metering member 35.For example, heavier seeds 17 require greater vacuum pressure to be heldin pockets of metering member 35 than lighter seeds 17 and flatter seeds17 may require more vacuum pressure to be held in pockets of meteringmember 35 than rounder seeds.

Still referring to FIG. 2 each vacuum unit 45 includes a vacuum unithousing 47, shown here with a tubular configuration. The vacuum unithousing 47 has a vacuum unit inlet 49 at a first end that receives airthat is drawn out of the seed meter housing 31 through seed meterhousing vacuum inlet 39 and a vacuum unit outlet 51 at a second end thatreleases air out of the vacuum unit housing 47. Vacuum tube 53 is shownconnecting the seed meter housing vacuum inlet 39 and vacuum unit inlet49; however, it is understood that vacuum unit 45 may be directlyconnected to seed meter 29. Vacuum unit 45 is shown here with a fansystem 55 to create its airflow with fan 57. Fan 57 includes blades 59and a motor 61 such as an electric motor that rotates the blades 59 tocreate the airflow that draws air out of and creates the vacuum pressurewithin seed meter 29. The rotational speed of motor 61 and blades 59 iscontrolled by control system 101 to vary the vacuum pressure within seedmeter 29 individually at each row unit 13 so that the vacuum pressurewithin each seed meter 29 is separately controlled.

Still referring to FIG. 2, control system 101 includes tractor controlsystem 103 and planter control system 105 that operably communicate witheach other, for example, by way of an ISOBUS connection, forcoordinating controls of tractor 9 and planter 7, including which seedvariety(ies) 17 a, 17 b is delivered to the seed meters 29, based on thetype or variety zones Variety-A, Variety-B, or other zone of theagricultural field is or will be planted. Tractor control system 103 isshown having a tractor controller 107 and power supply 109, and plantercontrol system 105 is shown having a planter controller 111 and powersupply 113. Each of the tractor and planter controllers 107, 111 caninclude an industrial computer or, e.g., a programmable logic controller(PLC), along with corresponding software and suitable memory for storingsuch software and hardware, including interconnecting conductors forpower and signal transmission for controlling respective electronic,electro-mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic components of the tractor 9and planter 7. Tractor controller 107 is configured for controlling thefunctions of the tractor 9 by controlling, e.g., steering, speed,braking, shifting, and other operations of the tractor, which mayinclude controlling various GPS steering or other GPS-related systems,transmission, engine, hydraulic, and/or other systems of the tractor 9.A tractor interface system is operably connected to the tractorcontroller 107 and includes a monitor and various input devices to allowan operator to see the statuses and to control various operations of thetractor 9 from within the cab of the tractor 9. The tractor interfacesystem may be a MultiControl Armrest™ console available for use with theMaxxum™ series tractors from Case IH. Planter controller 111 isconfigured for controlling the functions of planter 7 by controlling,e.g., product conveyance along the planter 7, seed 17 variety deliveryselection, and seed delivery out of planter 7 to the field. This mayinclude controlling the pumps, fans, blowers, and/or other airflowsystem components of the seed conveyance airflow system 27, includingactuating the gates, valves, and/or other flow-path selecting mechanismsthrough various seed-directing hoses or other conduits between the bulkstorage system 19 and on-row storage system 25 or between differentcompartments of the on-row storage systems 25 and the seed meters 29.Planter controller 111 further controls characteristics of seed meters29 such as adjusting singulator and baffle settings by way ofcontrolling corresponding solenoids, stepper motors, or the like, andfurther controls the direct vacuum system 5 to implement a vacuumapplication strategy to apply an appropriate vacuum pressure for theparticular seed variety being planted at a given time. This may be doneby the control system 101 evaluating which seed variety is beingdelivered at each row unit 13 and determining a correspondingappropriate vacuum pressure for each row unit's 13 seed meter 29 on arow-by-row basis. The appropriate vacuum pressure values for thedifferent seed varieties may be stored in memory of the control system101, such as in a lookup table or other appropriate data format. Thevalues may be in terms of actual vacuum pressure within seed meter 29,which may be detected by a pressure sensor(s) 41 in the seed meter 29,or may be correlated to different stored values such as rotationalspeed(s) of fan 57 that has been previously shown to provide theparticular vacuum pressure for the seed variety.

Referring now to FIG. 3, with background reference to FIG. 2 forillustrating components and systems, control system 101 commandsapplication of different vacuum pressures in a seed meter 29 toaccommodate different seed-to-seed meter holding characteristics ofdifferent seed varieties 17 a, 17 b based on their different physicalcharacteristics. Although described mostly in general terms of seedvariety switching and corresponding direct vacuum control of planter 7,since each row unit 13 has its own sensors and other components thatallow for individual control by control system 101, it is understoodthat the same description applies to individual control at eachindividual row unit 13 and their corresponding seed meter 29 and directvacuum unit 45 to provide row-by-row direct vacuum and multi-varietycontrol.

Referring now to FIG. 3, with background reference to FIG. 2 forillustrating components and systems, one exemplary method 121 isrepresented in the flow diagram, which may be implemented according tothe prescription map PM, schematically represented in the path map shownin FIG. 4. Control system 101 monitors where planter 7 and tractor 9 arein the field, as represented at block 123. This may include determiningposition, heading, and ground speed using the tractor's GPS and/or othersystems or sensors. At block 125, control system 101 sets the first seedvariety 17 a planting to correspond to the first encountered zone. Asrepresented at block 127, control system 101 commands delivery of thefirst seed variety 17 a from the bulk storage system 19 to the seedmeter(s) 29. As represented at block 129, control system 101 implementsthe vacuum strategy by commanding application of the first vacuumpressure directly to seed meter 29 by, for example, controlling thespeed of fan 57 of the vacuum unit 45 to achieve the first vacuumpressure that corresponds to that needed for the first seed variety 17a. The first vacuum pressure is typically a previously establishedappropriate vacuum pressure for the first seed variety that compensatesfor its characteristics, e.g., size, shape, and weight to avoidmultiples and skips.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, with background reference to FIG. 2 forillustrating components and systems, control system 101 continues tomonitor where planter 7 and/or tractor 9 are in the field, and evaluateswhether a zone change is approaching, as shown at block 131. This may bedone by determining the presence of an approaching zone change byidentifying a zone boundary according to the prescription map PM andevaluating whether the zone boundary is within a predetermined distanceand/or estimated time to cross from the current planter 7 and/or tractor9 position, speed, and heading. If a zone change is not approaching,then planting of the first seed variety 17 a continues by furtherdelivering the first seed variety 17 a from bulk storage system 19 tothe seed meter(s) 29 and direct application of the first vacuum pressureto each seed meter 29 with the respective direct vacuum unit 45continues according to blocks 127 and 129. At block 131, if controlsystem 101 determines that a zone change is approaching, then controlsystem 101 identifies the next variety zone and sets the next or secondseed variety 17 b as the current seed variety to correspond to the nextor second variety zone that will be encountered, as represented at block133. Control system 101 commands delivery of the second seed variety 17b to the seed meter(s) 29, as represented at block 135. Delivery of thesecond seed variety 17 b according to block 135 can be delayed in orderto plant-out more of the first seed variety 17 a before receiving thesecond seed variety 17 b in order to reduce the amount of mixed seed inthe seed pool of each seed meter 29, which would potentially be plantedas a mixture of the first and second seed varieties 17 a, 17 b, as amixture phase of the switchover event. Regardless, as represented atblock 137, when the second seed variety 17 b is delivered to the seedmeter 29, control system 101 commands the direct vacuum unit(s) 45 toapply the second vacuum pressure to seed meter(s) 29. The second vacuumpressure is typically a previously established appropriate vacuumpressure for the second seed variety that compensates for its, e.g.,size, shape, and weight to avoid multiples and skips.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3 with background reference to FIG. 2, asrepresented at block 139, during the mixture phase of the switchoverevent, control system 101 may determine whether a vacuum correctionevaluation should be performed. This would determine whether plantingcharacteristics such as presence of multiples or skips should bemonitored during the mixture phase of the switchover event to see thedirect vacuum units 45 should be controlled to vary their vacuumpressure to improve performance during the mixture phase, before fullyor further implementing the second vacuum pressure. For example, atblock 139, if the first and second seed varieties 17 a, 17 b havesubstantially similar vacuum pressure requirements, such as vacuumpressures within 5% or some other threshold of each other, then controlsystem 101 may determine that no mixture phase correction evaluation isrequired and any mixed seed in the seed pool is planted while the directvacuum units 45 apply the second vacuum pressure to the seed meters 29.This may occur when the first and second seed varieties 17 a, 17 b arethe same seed type, only one is coated so it weighs slightly more thanthe other while both have similar sizes and shapes. If, at block 139,the control system 101 determines that the vacuum pressure requirementsfor the first and second seed varieties 17 a, 17 b are outside of thethreshold for similarity of vacuum pressures for the first and secondvacuum pressures, then the mixture phase correction evaluation occurs,as represented at block 141. During this, control system 101 monitorsplanting characteristics while the mixed seed pool is being plantedduring the switchover event, such as monitoring for multiples and skips.The valuation may be a comparison of a number of seeds that should havebeen released from the seed meter 29 in a given period of time orrotation(s) of the metering member 35 as a target number compared to anactual number that was released during the given period of time orrotation(s) of the metering member 35. The actual number may correspondto a counted number determined by a seed detector(s) 43 arrangeddownstream of the release location and the seed meter 2 for detectingseeds. A counted number that is greater than the target number indicatesmultiples and a counted number that is less than the target numberindicates skips. Whether the number of multiples source skips exceeds athreshold value may indicate whether correction is needed, asrepresented at block 143.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 3 with background reference to FIG. 2, if atblock 143, control system 101 identifies delivery inconsistencies suchas multiples or skips, then it commands a vacuum correction bycontrolling the direct vacuum unit 45, as represented at block 145, tomitigate the delivery inconsistencies during the mixture phase of theswitchover event. While the mixture phase of the switchover eventremains underway, control system 101 can continue to monitor plantingcharacteristics, determine whether correction is needed and, if so,directly apply a corrective vacuum pressure as respectively representedin blocks 141, 143, and 145.

As one example, control system 101 may command direct vacuum unit 45 tostart applying a higher pressure and, if multiples are detected,incrementally decrease pressure until the inconsistencies aresufficiently reduced. Control unit 101 may command direct vacuum unit 45to apply the greater vacuum pressure of the first and second vacuumpressures to the seed meter 29 to try reducing inconsistencies duringthe mixture phase. While applying the greater of the first and secondvacuum pressures, evaluation of occurrences of multiples continues. Ifmultiples are detected, then the vacuum unit 45 is controlled todecrease the vacuum pressure. The vacuum unit may decrease the vacuumpressure to an intermediate vacuum pressure that has a value between thefirst and second vacuum pressures. If further occurrences of multiplesare identified while operating at the intermediate pressure value, thenvacuum unit 45 may further decrease its vacuum pressure to apply thelower of the first and second vacuum pressures.

As another example, control system 101 may command direct vacuum unit 45to start applying a lower pressure and, if skips are detected,incrementally increase pressure until the inconsistencies aresufficiently reduced. Control unit 101 may command direct vacuum unit 45to apply the lower vacuum pressure of the first and second vacuumpressures to the seed meter 29 during the mixture phase. While applyingthe lower of the first and second vacuum pressures to the seed meter 29,evaluation of occurrences of skips continues. If skips are detected,then the vacuum unit 45 is controlled to increase the vacuum pressure.The vacuum unit 45 may increase the vacuum pressure to an intermediatevacuum pressure that has a value between the first and second vacuumpressures. If further occurrences of skips are identified whileoperating at the intermediate pressure value, then vacuum unit 45 mayfurther increase its vacuum pressure to apply the greater of the firstand second vacuum pressures.

Correcting delivery inconsistencies during the mixed phase of theswitchover event continues until the mixed seed varieties 17 a, 17 b areplanted out and only the second seed variety 17 b is being planted in asteady state, and direct vacuum unit 45 continuously applies the secondvacuum pressure to seed meter 29. It is further noted that evaluation ofmultiples and skips may also be done during steady state planting of thedifferent seed varieties to reduce planting inconsistencies.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a path map is shown with a simplified schematicrepresentation of a prescription map of field 201 showing the two zonesof Variety-A and Variety-B, respectively shown as zones 203 and 205 forreceiving the two different seed varieties 17 a, 17 b. Tractor 9(FIG. 1) and planter 7 (FIG. 1) travel along path 211 through field 201while traveling through the Variety-A zone(s) 203 and Variety-B zone(s)205. Seed variety switching events are shown as circles labeled asswitching events 213.

Still referring to FIG. 4, initially, steady state planting of the firstseed variety 17 a occurs and direct vacuum system 5 applies a firstvacuum pressure to seed meter 29. Control system 101 commandsapplication of the first vacuum pressure for each of the direct vacuumunits 45. When planter 7 (FIG. 1) reaches the first seed-switching event213 to change planting to the second seed variety 17 b, control system101 commands a stop of the delivery of the first seed variety 17 a tothe seed meters 29 and the start of the delivery of the second seedvariety 17 b to the seed meters 29 by manipulating appropriate deliverygates within the seed supply mechanism on the row unit. At the sametime, control system 101 controls the direct vacuum units 45 to applythe second vacuum pressure to the seed meters 29. If fewer than all ofthe row units 13 cross into Variety-B zone 205 at the firstseed-switching event 213, then control system 101 only changes seedvariety and the vacuum pressure applied by the vacuum units 45 in therow units 13 that enter Variety-B zone 205 to the second vacuum pressurewhile maintaining delivery of the first seed variety 17 a and the firstvacuum pressure for the vacuum units 45 at the row units 13 that remainin Variety-A zone 203 at that time. The next shown seed-switching event213 corresponds to exiting the Variety-B zone 205 and reentering theVariety-A zone 203. Control system 101 commands switching from seedvariety 17 b back to seed variety 17 a by manipulating appropriatedelivery gates within the seed supply mechanism on the row unit, whilesimultaneously commanding the vacuum units 45 to change back to anapplication of first vacuum pressure within seed meter(s) 29. Theprocess repeats in this way during planting and is modified based on,for example, the number of variety zones in the field and the number ofseed varieties being planted.

Many changes and modifications could be made to the invention withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. Various components and features ofthe direct vacuum system 5, seed metering system(s), and other systemsand components can be incorporated alone or in different combinations ona planter. The scope of these changes will become apparent from theappended claims.

We claim:
 1. A multiple variety seed planter with direct vacuum systemfor planting multiple seed varieties in a single planting pass duringrow-crop planting of an agricultural field, the multiple variety seedplanter comprising: a frame; multiple row units supported by the frameand including, multiple seed storage compartments supported by the rowunits for separately storing at least a first seed variety and a secondseed variety; a first row unit with a first seed meter that has a firstmetering member delivering the first seed variety as a current varietyof the first row unit; a second row unit with a second seed meter thathas a second metering member delivering the second seed variety as acurrent variety of the second row unit; and a direct vacuum systemconfigured to apply vacuum pressure to the first and second seed metersand including, a first vacuum unit arranged at the first row unit todeliver vacuum pressure to the first seed meter at a first vacuumpressure that corresponds to a characteristic of the first seed variety;a second vacuum unit arranged at the second row unit to deliver vacuumpressure to the second seed meter at a second vacuum pressure thatcorresponds to a characteristic of the second seed variety.
 2. Themultiple variety seed planter of claim 1, wherein the characteristic issize, such that the first seed variety is a first size and the secondseed variety is a second size, and wherein the different first andsecond vacuum pressures correspond to pressures for holding the firstand second seed varieties of the first and second sizes against thefirst and second metering members to move through and be delivered outof the first and second seed meters.
 3. The multiple variety seedplanter of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is shape, such that thefirst seed variety is a first shape and the second seed variety is asecond shape, and wherein the different first and second vacuumpressures correspond to pressures for holding the first and second seedvarieties of the first and second shapes against the first and secondmetering members to move through and be delivered out of the first andsecond seed meters.
 4. The multiple variety seed planter of claim 1,wherein the direct vacuum system is configured so that, when the firstseed meter changes from delivering the first seed variety to the secondseed variety, the first vacuum unit changes from delivering vacuumpressure from the first vacuum pressure to the second vacuum pressure;and when the second seed meter changes from delivering the second seedvariety to the first seed variety, the second vacuum unit changes fromdelivering vacuum pressure from the second vacuum pressure to the firstvacuum pressure.